Smith reaches Premier League play-offs!

Thursday, 3 May 2018 23:17:28 Europe/London

Michael Smith has done it! The Unicorn man has made it to the Premier League semi-finals!

But Gary Anderson still has work to do to qualify after a heavy defeat at the hands of Raymond van Barneveld in Birmingham.

Smith earned the point that clinched his place at the O2 in a thrilling draw with Daryl Gurney.

Anderson’s fate is still in his own hands. The Scot is still a big favourite to qualify. He is two points clear of Gurney and has a far superior leg difference of +12 over the Irishman.

Heading to Aberdeen for the last week of the regular PL season, Gurney plays Wright and has to secure a big win and hope Anderson suffers a heavy defeat against Michael Van Gerwen. It is still all to play for, but Gary knows what is required in Scotland next week!

He never really got going after going 3-0 down to Van Barneveld.

But hats off to Michael Smith. He is second in the table, a point clear of Rob Cross after that six apiece result against Gurney. It was a qualify match. Smith led 3-1. Gurney then produced stunning 147 and 167 check-outs. But the Unicorn man kept his cool and threw a 12 darter in the deciding leg, finishing with 81 on the bull to confirm his spot at the O2.

Elsewhere, Van Gerwen confirmed top spot in the group for the sixth straight year. He averaged 111.57 in beating Rob Cross 7-2......but Cross still qualified for Finals Night. That last spot is between Anderson and Gurney

Birmingham Results:

Peter Wright 7-4 Simon Whitlock

Rob Cross 2-7 Michael van Gerwen

Daryl Gurney 6-6 Michael Smith

Gary Anderson 3-7 Raymond van Barneveld

*************************

In other darts news, the PDC has announced it will honour the great Eric Bristow by naming the Grand Slam trophy in his name.